One Year Later

The sound of an organ started playing, Minnie stepped through the doors and looked down the long, decorated aisle leading up to the podium.

Here comes the bride.

Minnie's heart fluttered; after 96 years, it was finally happening, she felt the weight of her dress falling down around her, the bouquet of flowers held in her hands.

Minnie made her way down the aisle, the guests waited in silence, the feeling of anticipation hanging over the entire place.

Minnie made it to the stage, walked up the stairs and stood before Mickey, her Mickey, her one true love.

"Mickey and Minnie, you have come here today to join together in Holy Matrimony. Minnie, do you take Mickey to be your lawful wedded husband?"

"I do," said Minnie joyfully.

"And Mickey, do you take Minnie to be your lawful wedded wife?"

Mickey was silent a moment.

Minnie felt the sense of confusion rising within her.

"Mickey?"

Minnie looked up into Mickey's face, and that's when she froze.

A dark grin lit Mickey's face, he straightened up his neck, joints cracking as he went.

"Minnie Mouse," his voice came out in a rasp, "A precious Mini Moursel for me..."

His mouth creaked open, his rolled tongue over dripping red fangs; Minnie's heart stopped in her throat, she backed up a step.

"Don't'u dare step away from the Mickey of your dreams," Mickey said whimsically, withdrawing a knife.

"Help!" Minnie cried as she turned and fled.

Minnie only made it a few feet before she felt it, the sharpness of a propelled blade cutting her legs clean off. She shrieked as she toppled down the church's stairs.

"You've said your vows, your love for me is true, you cannot leave me, you never should've ran," Mickey said, slowly approaching her fallen body.

"Help!" Minnie cried again, pleading as she crawled herself forward, her hands dragging her across the floor, "Somebody help me!"

And then she looked up and saw the people watching from the pews.

Not people, corpses.

Oswald, Felix, Fanny and Sadie, all dead in their seats, various wounds on their bodies where the mouse had stopped to feed.

"And now a bride to add to my collection."

And then he lunged. Minnie screamed as she felt the teeth sinking in.

"You may now kiss the bride."

Minnie jerked awake in bed screaming.

The silence of the cool Argentinian night fell across the room.

Fortunately, Mickey and Oswald were completely conked out and midnight screams, herds of elephants and whatnot were not the kinds of things capable of waking them; Only Felix cracked an eye and glared it at Minnie, ungrateful to have his sleep rudely interrupted by such an obnoxious outburst.

Minnie sat there a few moments letting her pounding heart calm; it was all just a dream.

Minnie pulled the blankets aside, feeling suddenly soggy. Then she saw the problem.

Uh-oh, she'd just wet the bed.

Minnie let out a long sigh and climbed out of bed. She realized she hadn't packed an extra pair of panties (kind of hard when you have a psycho killer masquerading as you future husband chasing you out of town moments after you've arrived), so she'd just have to let them dry the hard way.

Minnie walked over to the window where she could see the sun beginning to rise over the horizon, painting the Argentinian landscape colors of reds and yellows (essentially a whole ton of blacks and greys and whites if you're reading this in glorious 1928 pre-color). All of it was so familiar, she could almost feel herself being brought back 95 years to when she had lived here last, back when times were simpler and none of these ideas and concepts of becoming Public Domain would even matter for so long it wasn't even worth thinking. Oh the life she must've lived.

In the newness of the morning with all these memories to hold her, she realized she actually felt well rested from the night before, despite the interruption, and couldn't help but feel gratitude for the Guitarron Guy's help... but still-

It's going to be a long day, Minnie thought anxiously.

She could still remember Mickey in her dream, the hate, the pure malice, the same Mickey they were going to face today, the same Mickey that the Mickey she had grown to love was being repurposed to become.

She looked back over at Mickey on his mat, laying there peacefully, his chest rising and falling calmly as he slept; and she longed again for those days, so long ago, when the rhythm of her Soul had carried her through every dance, and Mickey had been there with her, just like they had been yesterday.

But neither Mickey or Minnie could ever truly go back, could they, and Minnie had seen first hand what he could become in the future, how twisted her Mickey could be… So why wasn't she running, why was she standing at his side even as she had seen the worst in him?

Because that wasn't the real him…

Was it?

Of course it wasn't, that Mickey... that was some big twisted version that had taken something beautiful and ruined to make someone feel better about themselves or something.

Right?

Minnie continued to watch Mickey sleep, listen to his gentle breathing, and affection filled her eyes. Yes, her and Mickey had had problems, Mickey wasn't perfect, he was a little spontaneous at times, didn't stop to ask if he should do things that he maybe shouldn't…

But he was Mickey, growing, changing Mickey. This version of him may not grow into the same Mickey he might have become under copyright over these past 95 years, but he didn't have to become this evil rotten version of the mouse she loved either.

Love was forever, right?

But... shouldn't one avoid falling in love with someone who goes around killing people with knives? Mickey wasn't that, but he could be. Did that mean wisdom would say she should get as far out of this relationship as she could, or should she keep holding out faith that he wouldn't become this monster the future had seen in him?

Perhaps... Should one hold on to someone at all when they have seen that they have such potential for evil in them?

But then who can you hold onto when anyone could have the potential to become a murderous knife-wielding maniac in this crazy place they call the Public Domain?

...

But she couldn't see it; here in this part of the Public Domain, untouched by all that had happened in the past 95 years, the only Mickey she could see was the Mickey from her memories; this was the Mickey she was here to fight for.

She took a deep breath, her purpose finally becoming clear. Maybe she didn't know what Mickey would ultimately become, but until that day, she would keep fighting.

So, Minnie turned back to look at the sunrise, letting its warmth wash away the fears of her dreams as it began to dry also the dampness from her soggy undies.